Blog #6 – Just one month away

By Brenna Cohoon

After about a week and a half off of racing, the DGS Mustangs competed at the Naperville Twilight Invitational for the third consecutive year.  We spent the time in between Arizona and Naperville getting in some valuable training sessions that will benefit us throughout the upcoming postseason.  

On top of training, I spent the weekend before the Twilight meet on a college visit.  Since this meant missing a day of school on Monday, I was worried about what I would walk into when I returned on Tuesday.  But thanks to my understanding teachers, supportive coaches and teammates, and caring parents, I was able to balance everything over the course of those couple of days.  This helped me keep my stress levels in check as I prepared mentally for my race.  

When the time came, our team was ready to experience the electric atmosphere that comes with racing in the evening.  That feeling is especially prominent at Naperville Twilight.  The high levels of energy from excited members of the crowd is something that fuels the racers throughout the entire course, particularly during each of the trips around the track.

I personally felt well-prepared for the race on Wednesday.  I sensed similar thoughts from my teammates during the day at school, on the bus to the meet, and while walking over to the starting line.

No matter how confident I feel before a race, I can still get a little nervous.  I always focus on controlling that nervous energy, turning it into a feeling of excitement.  I noticed my teammates acting in the same way, preparing to not allow their nerves to hold them back, but rather, to propel them forward.  

In the end, it wasn’t a great race, but it was just good enough for October 9.  My ninth-place finish in 17:22 and my team’s second place finish did not meet my expectations.  Immediately after my finish, I felt extremely dissatisfied with the results, frustrated by the fact that I didn’t make things fall perfectly together during the three miles I was racing.

After a few minutes passed, I was feeling much more rational.  I knew that the entire race was not a disappointment; there were definitely some aspects of my plan that I think I executed nicely, like having a strong finish.  

I also acknowledged the parts of my personal race plan that I definitely need to improve upon, such as staying closer to the top pack.  For some reason, I assumed that I would automatically be on a roll after being pleased with my results in Arizona.  That obviously didn’t end up being true.

This is all okay, though.  Again, I had to remind myself that last Wednesday was only October 9.

Then, I asked myself when state was. The answer: November 9.  Exactly one month later in the season from Naperville Twilight.

I took a few deep breaths of relief, then focused my thoughts inward.  I have a month to really get things going by making improvements to my race plan and execution.

In the days following Naperville Twilight, everyone on the team seemed motivated to make similar changes to their personal races.  I noticed girls collaborating upon their future race plans, aiming to push one another throughout the first two miles before focusing on that final kick.  Everyone was in good spirits but wanting more.

Like I’ve said before, I think everyone was pleased, but not satisfied.

This past weekend, I had to shift gears again from thinking about high school running to looking ahead towards college.  As my process has evolved over the past couple of years, I have learned so much about different schools, and have identified what I am seeking in my future university. 

My final decision will be evident soon enough, so for now, I’ve been focused on narrowing down my options while also having fun.  After all, this is supposed to be an exciting experience, not a stressful one.

After a week off of racing, I have had a lot of time to continue reflecting upon my performance at Twilight.  If there is anything I have learned about myself through my relationship with running, it is that a few races not living up to my expectations do not define me or dictate the rest of my season. 

This is especially important as we head into conference and the post-season.